Operation Linebacker: A Division Story

by Matticus4205

After securing most of Manhattan, the JTF now reinforced with additional Nation Guard elements, have decided it was time to go on the offensive and re-open the roads south of NYC and establish a new supply route. The only road leading south is across two heavily guarded bridges and knowing the Last Man Battalion, the JTF is in for a fight.

1. Prologue

Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome to Operation Linebacker. This story depicts the latest major offensive launched by elements of the JTF, the SHD as well as newly arrived elements of the Army National Guard. This story is completely fictional minus the setting, some major characters from the game and the enemies. What I want to do here is depict what a major combat operation would look like in the world of the Division. I mean we get snippets via ECHOs and some recordings but we don't get to actually see it. I felt in some missions we would get to see multiple JTF elements backing us in an assault like during the final LMB mission but all we get is like three to four dudes... Anyway, feel free to leave any comments and suggestions and keep an eye out for updates cause this is gonna be a long one.

Prologue: 2019, January 20th, 3 clicks north of South Amboy

"Watchtower this is Haymaker how copy over?" The wind began to pick up and kicked up some snow down below outside the abandoned warehouse. "We read you 5 by 5 Haymaker, send traffic over. The Green Beret clicked on his handset. "Watchtower be advised I'm seeing several strong points along the I-35 and Driscoll bridges break." He pulled up his binos and peered through them "I count 4 times APCs and 2 time IFVs break, multiple infantry and indirect munitions over." Another Green Beret next to him drew down the details of the bridges and the defences around them. "Copy Haymaker, interrogative, I need a no BS assessment over." The radio operator let out a soft sigh. "Watchtower I recommend against a frontal assault break, strong chance of a mass casualty situation over." As he clicked off the handset two more Green Berets climbed up the ladder to join the other two on the catwalk. "What do we got Boss?" One of them asked. The team leader shook his head and handed him the binos. "A fuck ton of assholes."

The soldier pulled off his goggles and looked through the binos. "Fuck, that's a lot of ass and shooters, indirect?" The TL nodded and pointed a glove finger to a HESCO bunker. "My guess is either 60s or 81s." Suddenly the radio chirped up. "Haymaker be advised, your orders are to RTB over." The TL clicked on the handset. "Copy Watchtower, Haymaker is RTB, out." The men gathered their gear and made their way down to the floor of the warehouse. "How's our exfil Donny?" The Green Beret with the goggles nodded. "We're good, LMB doesn't patrol this side during the day." He adjusted the strap to his Rush 72 pack. "If we hoof it now, we can make it to the FOB before nightfall." Everyone checked their M4s and made sure they had a round in the chamber. "Alright boys, on me." The four men stacked up on the north side door, with a pat on the shoulder they flowed out the door in a column and out into the town.

6 hours later, FOB Mackey, Bulls Head, Staten Island

"Blue!" A JTF Soldier shouted from the school roof. "Ridge!" The Team Leader shouted back. "Come on in Haymaker, CO's watin." The guard replied. The four Green Berets jogged past the makeshift gate and guard post and let out several sighs and pants. "Fuck.." Donny breathed heavily. "I ever tell you boys how much I hate the cold." There were several chuckles from the team. "Bro, you're from Michigan." Replied one of the Green Berets. "Fuck you John, fuck you." The TL looked at his men. "Hit the chow hall then the racks boys, I gotta brief the Colonel." The team let out a combined "Hoo-ah." As the TL made his way down the halls and corridors of the former catholic high school he was met and greeted by several passing JTF members and National Guardsmen. "Top wait up." a woman called out to him. He stopped and looked at a women with brown hair in a bun, in uniform jogging to him. "Captain, how are your boys?" He asked as she caught up. "Glad to be home, well as close to home as they can get." She replied.

Captain Kathy Chambers, CO of Charlie Company, 27th Infantry BCT (Brigade Combat Team). She looked at him as they walked towards the TOC (Tactical Operations Center). "Any more pipe hitters from the 19th SFG arrive?" She asked. The TL shook his head. "No ma'am, far as I can tell we're it for now, well us and Havoc team up in Queens." She shook her head. "Fuck me, two ODAs and only a third of y'all made it. Was it that bad?" He nodded as he took off his FAST helmet. "Yeah, we got painted soon as we flew over Yonkers." He pulled off his Mechanix M-Pacts. "Pilots did what they could to evade but a SAM clipped our tail and we crashed in the Bronx, our CO and three others got smoked on impact. Bird 2 crashed in Yonkers but we haven't heard anything." Cpt. Chambers just shook her head. "Similar thing happened to us, our convoy was coming in via highway 95 through New Rochelle. We took fire soon as we hit the Bronx. LMB wasn't fuckin around let me tell you that."

The duo finally reached the TOC, soon as they saw the Colonel they stood at attention and saluted. "Sir." They said together. The 45 year old Colonel turned to face them, he sported a freshly shaved head and face and returned the salute. "Captain, First Sergeant, what do we got." The TL moved over to the map and began marking down positions with a red dry erase marker. "Far as we can tell sir LMB is strong pointing both bridges, they aim to keep New York cut off from the Capital." The Colonel nodded as the First Sergeant explained what positions his team saw. "It's gonna be a fight sir but frankly if we play this right we could open up the roads to DC." The Colonel looked at Cpt. Chambers. "What do you think Captain?" He asked. She let out a sigh. "Well Sir, my men are ready for a fight but, we're gonna need more than infantry to take and hold these bridges." She looked over the map once more. "Even with the Strykers we have, those Bradleys will rip us a new one with their TOWs." The TL looked over the map as well. "What about a team going across the river itself and assaulting from behind?" The Colonel nodded. "That could work but before we do anything we need to advance the frontline and that means securing this place." He points to a township covered in red. "Woodbridge, we need to secure the area and set up a forward base, then we can focus on the bridge." Both Kathy and the TL nodded. "Get your men briefed, I'll try to gather what resources I can." The Colonel turned around and returned to his office. The LT let out a sigh. "What's on your mind First Sergeant?" Kathy asked. "Can I be frank Captain?" She nodded. "I think the LMB have more in store then we think."